Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em

I usually don't like to feed the trolls…..but what exactly were you expecting from the book?

 In my opinion, it's one of the best books written on NL Hold'em, but even still you have to be able to successfully apply the information to your game, and more importantly know WHEN to apply them and when not.  This is not always an easy task. No matter how amazing the material is. If you just blindly try to steal pots or 3 barrel bluff as the book advises, in certain games you will get smashed. Poker is about ADAPTATION to the situation. The game is always evolving. You can't copy a formula from a book "verbatim" and expect to win consistently. You have to gradually implement certain aspects to your current game. A good poker book improves your game, but more importantly open you minds to new ways of play, and increases your # of "weapons"

For example, I have a poker friend, who has been playing much longer than me. He has read the "Harrrington on Hold'em" 3 volume tournament series numerous times (complete with extensive notes). These are widely considered some of the best (if not the best) books on NL tournament poker.

Despite this, he's had very little success in NL Tourneys. (rarely cashes) Does this mean Harrington's books are terrible? NO.  Maybe the reader simply has not digested the material properly, or maybe he is trying to copy the book verbatim, instead of keeping his game flexible to how the table is playing. Maybe the author's playing style doesn't mesh with his own. etc. etc. 

If you looking for a magic $$ pill that required little effort, maybe you should have bought $100 worth of lottery tickets instead ot he E-book.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but how about explaining in detail your problem with the book, instead of just trolling? Constructive criticism is a good thing, 3rd grade whining is not.

• What aspects of the book did you not like? Give details to support your argument.
• What games are you playing? If it's anything other than $1-$2 online 6-max, you have to adjust your strategies accordingly. Even if you are playing 1/2 online 6 max, you have to adjust to each opponent and situtation on the fly. If you aren't doing this well, it's more on you than the authors.
• How long have you been implementing these strategies in your game? If it's less than 50,000-100,000 hands, then you really don't have a decent sample size to calculate your "success". Poker variance is a bitch.

My guess is you've probably had some bad sessions, or you're on a downswing, and are looking to blame anyone but yourself. Many players, including myself, tend to overuse new techniques when they first read about them, whcih can result in an early downswing while learning the new concepts. It may take 3-4 readings to get the full benefit, maybe more since we are dealing with some advanced concepts.

The E-book and the authors aren't the ones making you play the wrong games, or the perhaps wrong tables. They are not the ones making bad raises, bad calls, or making bad reads. You can hate the book and the pricetag all you want, but at least tell us why. However, if YOU happen to be playing bad, take some of the blame as well. My guess is the authors have won more $$ than you, so maybe the bigger problem is the reader, not the material.

jamleeco said:

Thank God for idiots.

+1

Don't waste any more of your breath mullet, it's guys like these that pay our mortgages via the felt.

Post edited 8:38 pm – October 26, 2009 by Hitman

You're right random guest.  Professional poker players are mythical creatures that only exist in a fantasy world, no one actually makes a living playing poker.  GG, WP, GL

Post edited 5:40 pm – November 11, 2009 by Sh0e

mullethaiku said:

The constant trolling on here is getting old. You all sound like 3rd graders whining about not getting a video game you really wanted. This forum should be for some great poker discussion, not bitch sessions.

---

I disagree with you on the above point, but I do agree that this forum can/should be a place for great poker discussions/growth. I don't really mean to be a troll; and truly, I don't think most of the other here don't either. I bought this book (which BTW, the price tag compared to traditional books is probably where the resentment comes from?), and I want to become good.

But it's not like this is a public forum, in the sense that a New England Patriots forum is… where people can come to roast the cheaters. In other words, no one really knows this forum (except for people who bought the book)… people aren't coming here just to fan flames.

Like those who buy a ticket to a sporting event, don't we have a right to express ourselves? If the book truly did suck, would we still be considered trolls for saying that it is so?

I've read the book; I'm re-reading parts right now. I've played probably a bit over 100k hands, with this knowledge at hand. I am winning at my stakes (though I was a winner previously too). I want to progress, eventually to NL200. But I'm certainly not there yet. And I'm willing to do more. As I've said, I'm in the Balancing Your Lines section… I feel like this may be a big step in my evolution. I think this may make me harder to exploit–if I can realize the reasoning of it.

But I'm terrible at utilizing my database (HEM). I use it at the table of course, but don't do any review. It just seems like so much, that I don't know where to start. I wonder if anyone is interested in joining me/helping to find leaks/play review. I'm talking step-by-step, where/what… (i.e. in the section, they take the example of “Bill” who takes a certain line on a K75 rainbow flop. How can I do this analysis of my HEM? And what other flops should I look at? Seems like there is almost infinite flops to look at… which is OK. I just need to know what to look at. I'm pretty ignorant in this area. And is it possible to take this information, once I'm able to see it, to utilize it against my opponents? I have CB flop–>turn, but it doesn't say on what flops, what position, etc.)

Can you see where someone who is ignorant, has tons of questions, but isn't a troll?

samiam said:

mullethaiku said:

1) Be brutally honest with yourself.

2) Try concentrating on enjoying poker and making the right plays every time, the money will come eventually.

---

1) Being brutally honest means realizing you will not win long term. You will lose the rake long term. The casinos collect this rake and are the only profitable group.

2) The money will come and go. Making the right plays every time is impossible. Your winning streaks will eventually be negated by losing streaks. No one has a sustainable long term edge and the casinos know this.

————————————————————————————————

Your statements seem very absolute samiam. Are you saying, nobody is making $$ at this? I beg to differ. I personally am a very slight winning player (just over break even now, but I didn;'t start playing serious until March '09) and I know a few friends who make a nice full time living online.

I don't know the exact figures, but I would venture to say at least a few hundred thousand players worldwide either A) are at least a break even/slightly winning players b) make a nice second income to their day jobs c) make a very good full time living playing poker.

If the only money came strictly to the casinos only, there would be no players. Currently I'm willing to bet there are more players than ever worldwide. Are they ALL losing? No. I would agree a large % are losing players, but there is still a nice chance to make some $$ if you work hard. However most poker players are lazy by nature.

By the way, I was only calling out the whiny trolls, not the guys posting legit questions.